Brentford 1-1 Bristol City: Match Report

16 April 2016 05:34

Long-term injury victim Scott Hogan's first senior Brentford goal made amends for a penalty miss as a late header denied Bristol City maximum points in a thrilling 1-1 draw.

The striker, out for a year with a cruciate injury, reacted quickest to redirect Jake Bidwell's far-post header home with his head from close range to earn the Bees a deserved point.

The Robins took the lead just before the break with a clinical low finish from Lee Tomlin from just outside the box.

Tomlin, a target for the Brentford boo-boys after an early lunge on Ryan Woods, picked the ball up midway inside the half and ran on unchallenged before drilling low past Bees goalkeeper David Button at full stretch.

The visitors had keeper Richard O'Donnell to thank for protecting their lead until the closing stages when he pulled off a superb penalty stop from Hogan - injured in only his second game for the Bees - after 84 minutes.

The substitute was bundled over inside the box by Nathan Baker and stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to see O'Donnell guess right and palm the ball wide.

It was a game of penalty appeals for both sides, with City arguably the more aggrieved at seeing two good calls turned down.

City striker Jonathan Kodjia saw a penalty appeal waved away just before half-time when he hit the deck under close attention from Bees defender Yoann Barbet while Brentford saw two handball appeals ignored by the referee.

The French centre-back could count himself lucky to still be on the pitch when his last-man flying tackle on Kodjia clipped the rangy forward's feet, but the honest striker stayed on his feet and the chance was gone.

Kodjia showed the Robins' early intent with five gone when he flashed a shot wide of the upright, prompting an almost immediate response from the hosts.

Lasse Vibe saw a fierce low drive tipped wide by O'Donnell, but they rarely looked like adding to their nine goals in three games in the first half.

The Londoners had a penalty appeal of their own dismissed on the half hour when Harlee Dean's volley from a Sam Saunders corner was deflected wide by the arm of Scott Golbourne.

Barbet's superb diagonal ball found Vibe in the box and his effort looked destined for the top corner but for a desperate Aden Flint block.

Brentford started the brighter after the interval but could not find a way through a resolute City rearguard that dropped deeper and deeper as the game went on.

The addition of Bobby Reid added spice to the City attack and he almost stretched the Robins' lead when he raced onto a speculative ball forward which saw Button stranded well outside his box, but Barbet was on hand with a saving tackle.

Vibe went close to levelling in the 77th minute when his powerful header was destined for the top corner only to see O'Donnell fling himself full stretch to tip over.

It looked like City would get a crucial three points towards their Sky Bet Championship safety with Brentford firing blanks inside the box until Hogan's strike sent Griffin Park into raptures.